Welcome to another edition of the OrvisNews.com Friday Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing footage available. This week’s collection has a little bit of everything, from trout to gar, tarpon to permit, shad to salmon. There’s also an incredible mix of music accompanying the visuals, including a few surprises. It’s an all Northern Hemisphere affair, though, spanning from Key West to Iceland. I am constantly impressed by the variety of videos we can include every week, and I see the filmmakers becoming more interesting and adventurous. There will always be a place for great angling action, no matter what the quality of the video, but to see the sport presented in so many cool visions is part of what makes putting the FFF together so much fun. Remember, we surf so you don’t have to. But if you do stumble upon something great that you think is worthy of inclusion in a future FFF, please post it in the comments below. See you next week with a fresh set of films!
Brethren of the Coast from In Frame Studios on Vimeo.
We kick things off with a trailer for an upcoming video about steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. It features some hardcore keg-camping, a great soundtrack, and a cartwheeling steelhead. What more could you want?
A Tributary of the Wye from Luke Bannister on Vimeo.
Luke Bannister continues to make quiet, lovely, self-shot fly-fishing videos on the rivers of the UK. Just a man and his bamboo, along with the sounds of nature. And who among us has not exclaimed, “Oh, bugger!”
These French fly fishers seem to be having a good time all the time, which makes for fun videos. This one starts slow and then heats up with a couple of great fish at the end. The slo-mo shad leaps are especially cool, and that’s a gorgeous Atlantic salmon.
Guided Bow River Fly Fishing for Big brown and rainbow trout, 2011 highlights v2 from Hopper-Stone Outfitters on Vimeo.
Some great action from Alberta’s Bow River, with plenty of dry-fly action, some good leaps, and even some camera trickery. The editor really pulled out all the stops.
Permit #10 from chroniclesofcod on Vimeo.
Chronicles of Cod continues his run of great videos with this shorty about his most recent permit. The soundtrack is a fine counterpoint to the action on the screen. You might even shed a little tear.
I’m not sure, but this might be our first gar video, and it looks like a blast. These prehistoric beasts do not enjoy being at the end of the line, and they act accordingly. And once they do come to hand, you can marvel at just how weird they are.
Great saltwater action and attitude by the guys at World Angling from Key West. The description of the video claims that the “The Next Generation is Here!” Warning: a few effbombs in this one.
FFE & Simms Crew on Iceland from Flyfish Europe As on Vimeo.
You like piggy browns? Then you’ll dig this video from Iceland, where each fish outdoes the one before it. The final brown trout is such a big,fat slob that it starts destroying equipment before it comes under control. I wanna go to Iceland. . .wicked bad.
HOOKÉ sur la rivière Bonaventure prise 2! from HOOKÉ on Vimeo.
More Atlantic-salmon hotness, this time from Quebec’s Bonaventure River, on the Gaspe Peninsula. The video is broken into three segments, one for each day of the weekend, with the best saved for last.
Rhode Island Summer: Week 7 from wes drees on Vimeo.
Little Rhody in the house! We’ve never had a trout-fishing video in the FFF from our tiniest state. I like the way that this was shot, with lots of different looks, locations, and styles. And the trout fishing looks pretty darned good.
Ouestern (Trailer) from Julien on Vimeo.
This is a super short trailer, but it’s beautifully made. I don’t know who Julien, Pierre, and Clement are, but I like they way they make fly-fishing videos. It will be interesting to see the finished project.
Spring in Twin Bridges from corey kruitbosch on Vimeo.
My friend Cory Kruitbosch—a pretty well known fly-fishing photographer—has flipped the switch on his DSLR to shoot some video with it. What he’s created is a sort of slice of life of an angler in Twin Bridges. I expect more good stuff from a guy with such a great eye for the sport.
RAINBOWS DOORS & OARS from Scott M on Vimeo.
We finish up with some Wyoming goodness, from the North Platte near Alcova. What it lacks in scenery it makes up for in fish. And have you ever seen a great Dane in a drift boat? Have a great weekend!